Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation

The Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation helps to remove barriers to accessing transportation required for attending work or school, visiting family and friends, going shopping and participating in other important aspects of daily life.

This regulated standard is the fourth accessibility standard to be enacted under The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and it will come into force for obligated organizations on January 1, 2027. The Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation helps conventional and paratransit service providers, schools, vehicles-for-hire and municipalities create a system of transportation that is more inclusive for all Manitobans. The regulation includes requirements related to policy development, equipment, vehicle design and operating matters such as fares, hours of service and routes.

Conventional and Paratransit Service Providers share general requirements under the Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation. These requirements include:

• developing a process for the public to provide feedback on accessible transportation
• providing training to staff on accessible transportation including, but not limited to, safety and emergency preparedness
• taking reasonable steps to ensure that accessibility equipment is working properly. If accessibility equipment is out of service, making repairs as soon as possible and taking reasonable steps to accommodate any person who otherwise would use the equipment or arranging alternate transportation for that individual
• holding at least one public meeting annually to review accessible transportation measures, policies and practices. Allowing members of the public, including persons disabled by barriers, an opportunity to provide feedback at these public meetings
• ensuring that the same fee is charged for the use of conventional and paratransit services in the same municipality and that the same fare payment options are available for both services
• displaying emergency preparedness and response procedures, as well as the service provider’s contact information
• providing reasonable assistance to help with boarding and deboarding a vehicle, upon request
• allowing a person disabled by a barrier to travel with at least one support person or a service animal
• allowing a person to travel with mobility aids and medical devices. Unless it would pose a safety issue or interfere with the operation of the vehicle.
• assisting a person to store or remove a mobility aid and medical device, on request

Conventional and Paratransit Service Providers individually have additional requirements under the Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation that they must ensure they follow.

Additional Requirements for Conventional Service Providers include:

• ensuring that newly purchased vehicles meet accessible design requirements and existing vehicles are updated to meet accessible design requirements by January 1, 2042
• clearing transit stops of obstacles, including snow. If a transit stop is not accessible, the provider must notify the public that the stop is not accessible and allow riders to get off the vehicle at a more accessible location
• providing on-board audible and visual stop announcements
• providing clearly marked priority seating for people with disabilities and developing a public communication strategy to inform the riders about priority seating, the availability of mobility aid spaces and other accessibility features
• notifying the public about any service disruption and offering an alternative accessible arrangement if there is a disruption to the route or schedule
• taking reasonable steps to assist with fare payment, on request

Additional Requirements for Paratransit Service Providers include:

• developing a process and assessment criteria to determine whether an applicant is eligible for paratransit services and making this information publicly available
• reviewing any paratransit application within 14-days of submission. If paratransit service providers cannot meet this deadline, they must offer a temporary pass
• providing a written explanation if the applicant is found not eligible for paratransit services and include information about how the decision can be appealed
• making services available to eligible non-Manitoba residents when they visit the province
• allowing for same-day reservations, when possible. If same-day reservations are not possible, accepting reservations up to three hours before the end of the service period on the day before the intended travel day
• offering comparable hours and days of service to conventional service providers within the same municipality
• informing riders if there is a delay through their preferred contact method, if the service is delayed 30 minutes or more
• allowing passengers to travel with a companion or child
• not limiting the availability of services for eligible persons, including restricting the number of trips a person may request

In addition to requirements for Conventional and paratransit providers, the following organizations must follow sector specific requirements:

• public school boards
• independent schools
• vehicles for hire operating in a municipality with a vehicle for hire bylaw
• municipalities that have conventional transportation services or a vehicle for hire bylaw

Read the Full Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation

Legal disclaimer: The above information is not legal advice. It aims to assist organizations to meet the requirements under Manitoba’s Accessible Transportation Standard. The information provided does not replace the content of the Accessible Transportation Standard Regulation or The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. If there is any conflict between this resource and the regulation or the act, the latter two shall prevail.